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Recently I attended a woman's HIV group for support and one of the professionals that was holding the meeting got onto the topic that there's this issue going around and she called it "Bug chasers" and "Gift Givers". I had never heard of this. Apparently (and I'm not singling out homosexuals so don't think I judge).. What she was saying was that there would be these parties where homosexuals would have sex with people they KNEW had HIV trying to contract the virus and the people with HIV were only too happy to oblige and called themselves Gift Givers.

What in the world would anyone contract the virus on purpose. I, personally, take HIV/AIDS very seriously and can't understand why someone would want to make themselves sick. Does anyone have any insight on this? I am truly perplexed. Thanks.. (and sorry if this post doesn't belong here) - Thanks for reading!

It was more of a controversy in the early 2000's. I guess it was more of a phenomenon then. As your reaction is pretty standard, you can imagine the scandal, anger, bewilderment and sadness this topic can cause.

You claim to take HIV very seriously. The people who supposedly did this (do this?) take HIV very very seriously as well. They are obsessed with it and have a fetishised relationship to both the HIV virus, and the status of being an HIV+ person.

Its a fetish. I agree with frisky guy. If you want to learn about it, google some articles. Everyone has done writing about it. Gay publications, science journals, etc etc. Even the wiki entry about it lays out the basic parameters:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugchasing

Getting insight into ANY fetish or outrageous behavior does not require the observer to accept it or condone it. But it does require an open mind, to listen to and consider the reasons people give for what they do. Actions most people would consider bizarre, repulsive, pathological, criminal, suicidal, whatever.... With that in mind, it won't be so "perplexing". Though maybe many such human behaviours stay, looking for the deepest rationale, mysteries; I agree there.

« Last Edit: May 20, 2013, 09:26:11 AM by mecch »

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

I suggest you watch "The Gift" (link below) which is a documentary that helps to explain the whole bug chaser mentality and not in ways you might expect. With something as complicated as seeking to become HIV, there is never an easy answer and some reasons, are beyond the comprehension of most folks.

I suggest you watch "The Gift" (link below) which is a documentary that helps to explain the whole bug chaser mentality and not in ways you might expect. With something as complicated as seeking to become HIV, there is never an easy answer and some reasons, are beyond the comprehension of most folks.

Thank, Joe! I was thinking the exact same thing and trying to hunt down that link when you posted.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

A family I knew in L.A. had 3 suicides in 3 years, each on Valentines Day. Chrissy took an overdose of sleeping pills after showing me his Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. We planned a fund raiser memorial with Suicide Prevention as benefactor. Suicide Prevention of Southern California did not send a representative but...

Our friend Jack who was the son of a Producer at Desilu Studios brought a really young and really cute guy. My BF picked him up at the Funeral. Over the next few months his Mom, her BF and his straight brother would hang out at all the gay bars. They were looking for a man with means to take care of their cute gay boy who wasn't very bright... He asked me one night if I would fuck him because he wanted to die. That was 14 years ago and I'm not dead and do not have a BF who would pick up someone at a funeral. Have the best dayMichael

Apparently (and I'm not singling out homosexuals so don't think I judge).. What she was saying was that there would be these parties where homosexuals would have sex with people they KNEW had HIV trying to contract the virus and the people with HIV were only too happy to oblige and called themselves Gift Givers.

What in the world would anyone contract the virus on purpose. I, personally, take HIV/AIDS very seriously and can't understand why someone would want to make themselves sick. Does anyone have any insight on this? I am truly perplexed. Thanks.. (and sorry if this post doesn't belong here) - Thanks for reading!

Oh, I think some of us have some insights into that. This isn't the appropriate forum.

But, yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as a bug chaser. I doubt most of us/them/whoever understand you any more than you understand us/them/whoever.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I suggest you watch "The Gift" (link below) which is a documentary that helps to explain the whole bug chaser mentality and not in ways you might expect. With something as complicated as seeking to become HIV, there is never an easy answer and some reasons, are beyond the comprehension of most folks.